Roberto Mancini has made history with his latest Italy national team selection, assembling his youngest ever squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures in November. The squad boasts an average age of 24 years and 171 days, signalling a clear focus on youth development for the Azzurri.
The 31-player squad includes notable teenage call-ups such as 17-year-old Riccardo Cassano and 18-year-old Simone Lontani. While these two promising talents will initially train with the senior team, they are expected to return to the U18s and U19s respectively to gain competitive game time during the international break. Other teenagers included in Mancini’s selection are Honest Ahanor (18), Matteo Palma (18), and Mattia Liberali (19), further underscoring the youthful direction.
This emphasis on emerging talent is evident even when excluding Cassano and Lontani from the calculation, as the remaining players still form Mancini’s youngest ever Italy squad. The next generation of players also features Alphadjo Cisse (20), Pio Esposito (21), and Marco Palestra (21), highlighting a broad integration of young prospects.
In contrast to the youthful core, Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, at 30 years old, stands as the oldest member of the current Italy squad. He is joined by other experienced figures like Nicolo Barella (29), Federico Gatti (28), and Federico Dimarco (28), providing a blend of seasoned professionals and burgeoning stars.
The Azzurri are set to face France and Belgium in their UEFA Nations League encounters this month. This squad selection suggests Mancini is not only focused on immediate results but also on building a robust foundation for Italy’s future international campaigns.